Senior Control Systems Engineer

By 2050, the planet could be using twice as much electricity compared to today. Are you interested in contributing and helping to shape the future of the world’s energy? If so, read on.

Fusion, the process that powers the Sun and Stars, is one of the most promising options for generating the cleaner, carbon-free energy that our world badly needs. UKAEA are at the forefront of realising energy from fusion, working with industry and research partners to deliver the ground-breaking developments that will underpin tomorrow's fusion power stations with the aim of bringing fusion electricity to the grid.

RACE (Remote Applications in Challenging Environments) is based at Culham, within UKAEA, specialising in remote handling and automated systems.

Who are we looking for?

Are you an experienced control systems engineer with excellent leadership, communication and influencing skills?

Do you have proven experience of leading control systems and software development activities?

If you have excellent technical skills and love to solve challenging problems in collaboration with like-minded people, then please apply.

We are looking for an established and highly experienced technical lead in order to become the expert in the design, implementation and commissioning of real-time robotic control systems. We require you to have advanced knowledge of a range of control systems techniques, devices, systems and approaches, as well as expert knowledge in overall control systems architecture. If you have previous experience of implementing control systems for robotics in hazardous environments (including radiation), this would be highly advantageous.

Special Requirements

- International travel to customer’s and collaborator’s sites may be required

- On-call / shift work may occasionally be required

What will you be responsible for?

As the lead control systems engineer and subject matter expert, you will have responsibility for:

- The design and production of advanced robotic control systems

- Conducting related research and development activities

- Leading RACE projects with control systems expertise, producing control hardware and software for robotic remote handling and related systems

- Working on the design and execution of advanced research projects

- Leading complex interdisciplinary and multi-organisational collaborative engineering and development projects

We have a highly motivated team of over 150 engineers, scientists and technicians devoted to building systems that perform tasks in some of the most extreme environments in the world. RACE is a leading laboratory, solution provider and operator of robotics and autonomous systems. We create innovative machines that combine advanced control systems, intricate mechanical designs, state-of-the-art sensing, and extraordinary performance. We also develop sophisticated VR, optimisation and planning tools to enhance these systems.

Qualifications

Essential skills, experience and competence required

- PhD or Masters degree in Control Engineering or a related subject

- Proven experience of leading control systems and software development activities

- Strong awareness and understanding of modern control systems technologies

- Experience of software engineering management and quality

- Experience of designing and building digital control systems

- Good interpersonal and communication skills and a proven ability to function as part of a team

- Strong understanding of Object-Oriented Design

- CEng or equivalent accreditation

Desirable skills, experience and competence

- Significant experience with C++

- Understanding of software engineering processes including lifecycle, version control, documentation

- Experience with network-based communications, E.g. TCP, UDP, DDS

- Experience working with mobile robotics

Additional Information

What we offer

- A competitive salary 

- A culture committed to being fully inclusive, supported by a Being Inclusive Strategy and Inclusion Ambassadors

- An Employee Assistance Programme and trained Mental Health First Aiders, with a full calendar of health and wellbeing initiatives

- Flexible working options including family friendly policies 

- Emergency leave (paid)

- 30.5 days’ annual leave (including privilege days and 3 days between Christmas and New Year) increased with length of service

- Wide range of career development opportunities (e.g professional registration, internal promotions, coaching and mentoring programme) 

- Outstanding defined benefit pension scheme 

- Annual corporate bonus scheme 

- Relocation allowance (if eligible)

We welcome applications from under-represented groups, particular from individuals from black and other ethnic minority backgrounds, including nationality and citizenship, people with disabilities, (visible and hidden) and women. Our dedicated Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Partner, with the support of our Inclusion Ambassadors, is actively promoting and advancing diversity and inclusion in the organisation to help make our organisation an employer of choice. We are easily accessible by car and are a 10 minute walk from Culham Railway Station. 

Please be advised that this vacancy is due to close on 29/12/2021. Please be advised that this vacancy may close earlier than stated if large or sufficient numbers of applications are received.

Please note, all employees working at the UK Atomic Energy Authority will be required to complete an online Disclosure Certificate application as part of their clearance – The Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks will show the details of all current criminal convictions (convictions considered unspent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974) or will confirm that there are no such convictions.